REACTIONS FROM GUYANESE IN GUYANA

Paul James wrote me this evening (March 11) with the following update from Guyana:
The convoy left yesterday for Berbice. The streets were lined with thousands of people flocking to see the body of their President. It was said that on the way to Berbice, people in the village of Buxton stopped the procession to pay their last respects to a great leader whom they said, did so much for them.
Presently, the late President's body is in Berbice at the Albion Sports Complex. As seen on TV and reported by the media, thousands of people assembled to see the President's body. It was said by the Commisioner of Police, Mr. Laurie Lewis that the gates of the Albion Sports Complex had to be closed to contain the massive crowd. He said that there were thousands of people outside the gates; and the viewing would continue all night until tommorow.
With the large amount of people, the funeral was postponed for another day, allowing the large crowd to view the body. Tomorrow, the day of the Cremation, was declared a National Holiday by Guyana's new President, Hon. Sam Hinds.
Dr. Cheddi 'Joey' Jagan constantly appealed to the crowd for calm and co-operation in the viewing of his Father's body. After this message by the son of the former President, the crowd responded with orderly behaviour and the viewing continued peacefully.

Naeem Hamid in Georgetown wrote the following today (March 11):

"The body of the late Cheddi Jagan arrived in Berbice late last evening."
" Arising out of the sea of people gathered to view his body and due to the overwhelming outpouring of the people of that county, Mrs.Janet Jagan has decided that the cremation of the President would now take place tomorrow, 12 March at 1:00 p.m instead of today the 11 March at 1:00 p.m."
"The new President Sam Hinds has confirmed this change both on radio and television and has further declared that tomorrow Wednesday 12 March will be a another national holiday and the seventh day of mourning for the Fallen Hero of Guyana, Dr Cheddi B. Jagan."
" Dr.Cheddi Jagan had a tremendous state funeral at Parliament building yesterday and while being taken to Berbice the cortege was beseiged by people lining the road.It is clear that what happened in Berbice was that almost everyone wanted to see Dr.Jagan body and this resulted in the change of the date of the actual cremation."

Paul James, the director of Solutions2000.net, a leading Internet Service Provider in Guyana, wrote the following today from Georgetown:

In Guyana every one is mourning for the President. Since he has been laid in state the people of Guyana have been flocking to see him.
It is known that people as far from the interior and the Essequibo coast has come to see him. The lines are long and its like never finishing just getting longer as the day goes by.
Businesses have been closed. It has been a real sign of respect and mourning for a great man.
The lines begin on the southern side of state house from Margarita's gift shop on Middle St. to the entrance of State House on Main St.and on the northern side from Carmichael St. along Lamaha St. into Main St. to the entrance of State House.

People have been flocking in their thousands to see the the President for the last time. For two days the lines have been this long and tonight (Sunday) people withstood the rain to pay their last respects.

Anand Beharry, a Guyanese living in Georgetown emailed me about yesterday's arrival of the President's body in Guyana.
He said the arrival ceremonies etc. was one "fit for a King".
"The plane circled the city very, very, low at 4:45pm, I was on the sea wall at the time people around me broke down and started crying. The turn out at the airport was something to see. People lined the way from the airport...people drove from Berbice by the mini bus load to be there for his arrival. I've never seen this kind of outpouring of affection and saddness for any public figure in Guyana..."
"Every home, and business place is draped in black flags, people are wearing swatches of black/red and gold cloth on their lapels black-death/red-to celebrate his life/gold-for the shining future he guaranteed us."
Mr. Beharry also said that these symbolic observances for Dr. Jagan are being carried out by Guyanese of all ethnic backgrounds, a refreshing sign in a country sometimes dominated by ethnic politics.
"It is wonderful to see" , he said. "You know they say death brings a family closer together, it's doing wonders for us."
"The gun carriage and procession took three hours to get from the airport to state house. The papers are filled with condolences and Stabroek News published a special sixteen page insert on his life and work. Everything is very quiet and sad."

IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY IN GUYANA AND WANT TO SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THE ATMOSPHERE THERE AFTER THE PRESIDENT'S DEATH PLEASE EMAIL ME AT swi@wam.umd.edu AND I WILL GIVE YOU FULL CREDIT IF I USE ANYTHING YOU SEND ME.